CAGAYAND DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The successful captive breeding of a Mindanao Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Gallicolomba crinigera) in Barangay Cugman, December 27, bolsters the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-10's wildlife conservation efforts.

The newly hatched Mindanao Bleeding Heart Pigeon (MBHP) and its parents are being cared for by Dr. Miguel David L. De Leon, a conservationist and director of the Return Flights Raptor Facility (RFRF) and the Robert S. Kennedy Bird Conservancy. This species is endangered and is only found in the Philippines.

De Leon told DENR-10 Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry A. Adornado about the important project after sending a team to monitor and record its success.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the then Regional Executive Director, now Assistant Secretary for Field Operations-Eastern Mindanao, Ruth M. Tawantawan, and De Leon on the Philippine Raptors Conservation Program on July 1, 2014, authorizing him to take temporary custody and care of injured wildlife, particularly raptors, from the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center while also extending medical assistance in rehabilitating injured raptors before releasing them back to their natural habitat.

Adornado thanked Dr. De Leon for helping him protect wildlife and praised him for rehabilitating two adult MBHP and helping a chick be born at the RFRF Holding and Captive Breeding Facility near DENR-10's Malasag Reforestation Project.

The two MBHPs of unknown gender at the RFRF were turned over by trappers four years ago and treated for noose injuries on the legs; upon recovery, they were placed in a large enclosure mimicking their natural habitat. The MBHP forages on the forest floor and is caught in noose traps set out for various Rail (tikling) and red jungle fowl species. (DENR-10/PIA-10)